Management of traumatic brachial plexus injuries in adults

EMG: electromyography; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; CT: computed tomography.
* Brachial plexus injury is suspected in the individual who has motor or sensory abnormalities of the upper extremity following trauma, presenting acutely or in a delayed fashion.
¶ Imaging in patients without significant clinical improvement or persistent pain helps determines the likely etiology and location of the injury, as well as presence of associated conditions (eg, orthopedic, vascular). Imaging is chosen based on mechanism of injury, ongoing symptoms, and their distribution. Imaging may include repeat MRI of the brachial plexus, CT myelogram, CT angiography, or others.
Δ Examples include spinal accessory nerve to suprascapular nerve, radial nerve to axilla, and Oberlin/Mackinnon transfer.
◊ An example is intercostal nerve to spinal accessory nerve.